Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2025, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the following applications for planning permission and, in accordance with its powers and duties, made the decisions described below.

The consultation procedure undertaken was outlined in the report together with background information in respect of the site.

Since the publication of the agenda, the Principal Planning Officer noted that additional letters had been received regarding the phasing of development sites across the borough. In the current Development Plan, there was no policy requirement to control phasing of allocated developments in the borough. She continued that comments regarding bats in the area were outstanding from Merseyside Environmental Trust; therefore, it was recommended that the application be approved, subject to their response.

          A statement was circulated to the Committee from Councillor Angela Bell who was the local member in Halton. The statement highlighted in detail her concerns with traffic congestion, the impact on residents during construction, the change of use of Sandy Lane, flooding, the lose of greenbelt land and the character change to the area. 

The Committee was addressed by Dr Wotherspoon who objected to the proposal. He presented the following points:

·       There were concerns with infrastructure if the development was built, especially with GPs, dentists, schools, roads and the loss of the greenbelt land.

·       While he understood that housing was needed, he felt that full consideration was not taken with this site, especially with the additional traffic that would go onto the M62 junction.

·       Historically, he’d worked as a GP and specialised in road traffic accidents for 27 years before retiring.

·       At the north end of Warrington Road in Widnes, which is a single-track road, vehicles would often overtake stationary vehicles and vehicles going the 30mph speed limit on blind corners. This was most dangerous by the M62 roundabout.

·       Chapel Lane was a narrow country lane with blind corners and a narrow crossing. As short-term solution would be the planned slip-road onto Queensberry Way. For this development, the exit point should go onto the roundabout to Crompton Road and not Chapel Lane. This should all be done prior to construction.

·       Every house will have roughly two commuting cars, and this would increase with children who worked.

·       As the Council has duty of care to its residents, road safety should be the most important factor to mitigate death or serious injury.

·       He appealed to the Committee to take on his advice regarding road safety and act accordingly.

The Committee was addressed by Mr O’Connor, the Agent for the Applicant, who supported the officer’s recommendation to approve the application. He added that:

·       The site formed a majority of two allocations and was acceptable under the terms of the Council’s Delivery Plan. The development was applicable to all the policies as set out in Halton’s Development Plan.

·       The new development would include a toucan crossing on Queensbury Way, a traffic calming scheme and cycling infrastructure on Chapel Lane, and environmentally sensitive lighting on Sandy Lane.

·       New homes were needed in the borough and the planned access proposals were considered acceptable.

·       A sensitive design was planned for properties backing onto Uptown Lane.

·       The net gain will be minimally delivered on site

·       A slip-road  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The following applications had been received / were in progress:

24/00463/PRIOR

The Secretary of State had called in the planning application for the Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn. This will be considered at a Public Inquiry.

The following appeal had been determined:

25/00001/NONDET

Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of a building falling under Use Class E into a mixed use, Class E at ground floor and 2 flats (2 x 6 bed) Class C3 at first floor. (ALLOWED)